Charles F. Steel, (Unstated Value) Experimental Grill Essays (79-E13a). 80 x 140mm wove paper bearing four different types of grill impressions, signed "First experiments of grill, Chas. F. Steel" at bottom, all four are unadopted grill designs, one very strong and breaking thru paper at bottom, light toning has been professionally removed, crease at bottom right, few minor thins

AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE ESSAY SHOWING THE FIRST EXPERIMENT OF THE GRILLING DEVICE INVENTED BY CHARLES F. STEEL AND SIGNED BY HIM. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GRILLED ISSUE ITEMS IN EXISTENCE.

On October 22, 1867, Patent No. 70,147 was issued to Charles F. Steel for a device specifically designed for applying a grill to postage stamps (see lot 224 for the patent card). As noted in our introduction to the grilled issues in the Siegel Encyclopedia, available at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/pdf/1867.pdf , correspondence is known from Steel as early as 1865 demonstrating his efforts to persuade officials to employ his invention. This essay, likely produced in 1865, is of great historical importance.

We are aware of only three examples of this rare essay. One of the others, ex Finkelburg, has the positions of the top and bottom grills reversed.

Ex "Lake Shore" and Drews. Illustrated in 2020 Scott Catalogue on p. 863

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